Last Updated: May 19, 2022
Data may be updated more recently than this date.
Northland is committed to prioritizing the health and well-being of our community, and to a decision-making process that is informed by science and the best guidance of public health experts.
As of May 19, CDC COVID-19 Community Levels in Ashland County are reported as high. In alignment with CDC guidelines and Northland College’s COVID-19 safety protocols, effective immediately, masks and face coverings are required in all indoor public settings on campus and in campus vehicles.
If you do not have one, there is still a limited number of masks available at some locations on campus.
Masking is an important layer of protection, along with staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccinations and getting tested if experiencing symptoms.
If you have potential symptoms of COVID-19 or believe you may have been exposed, contact healthservices@northland.edu to consult with the Office of Health Services. COVID-19 testing appointments are available for students, faculty, and staff.
Wear a mask or face covering with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you. N-95, KN-95, or KF-94 masks, well-fitted surgical masks, or multi-layer, well-fitted cloth masks provide the best protection against COVID-19 infection.
At this time, no other changes have been made to COVID-19 policies, and we will continue to monitor as conditions change.
Isolation reflects the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases considered active at a given time. Because of the prevalence of at-home testing—which is not reported to the COVID-19 team—isolation numbers give a more accurate view of cases than positive tests at this point in the pandemic. Numbers reported here offer a snapshot of activity on the days the data is reported. Data is updated weekly on Thursdays.
Vaccination rates are calculated with the number of people who completed a full vaccination series out of the total population—not a number adjusted for eligibility or full time equivalence (FTE). A full series is defined as a single shot of Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen or two doses or the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Boosted rates have not been collected for faculty, staff, or contracted services at this time.
Tap on the graph to see the number for that data point.
Isolation reflects the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases considered active at a given time. Because of the prevalence of at-home testing—which is not reported to the COVID-19 team—isolation numbers give a more accurate view of cases than positive tests at this point in the pandemic. Numbers reported here offer a snapshot of activity on the days the data is reported. Data is updated weekly on Thursdays.
Vaccination rates are calculated with the number of people who completed a full vaccination series out of the total population—not a number adjusted for eligibility or full time equivalence (FTE). A full series is defined as a single shot of Johnson & Johnson’s Jansen or two doses or the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.
Boosted rates have not been collected for faculty, staff, or contracted services at this time.
All members of the campus community should complete the following symptom check every morning:
If you are a student, faculty, or staff member of Northland College, you can get tested by the Office of Health Services at the testing center located in the townhouse apartments. Those with symptoms or those who have an exposure can contact the Office of Health Services for assessment and arrangements for testing.
If you need a test for other reasons, including requirements related to personal travel, we encourage you to consider the home tests that are now available through the US government (COVIDtests.gov) or testing available at community locations, including:
Face coverings are required in all public indoor settings at Northland College, as well as in campus vehicles.
The CDC issued new guidance along with a new metric—COVID-19 Community Levels. This new metric accounts for healthcare capacity in addition to community spread, and there are three different levels: low, medium, and high. The CDC advises people to wear masks indoors in counties where the Community Level is high. The College will continue to monitor Ashland County’s Community Level and will require face coverings when it is high.
The College is able to provide disposable surgical masks and N-95/KN-95 masks for those who would like them. They are being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis at these locations during regular business hours: The Post Office, Office of the Registrar (200–201 Ponzio Campus Center), Dexter Library, and the Office of Financial Aid (113 Brownell Hall).
If you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have had close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19, immediately contact the Office of Health Services (students) or the Office of Human Resources (faculty and staff) for guidance on and assistance with testing. Do not attend class, come to work, or participate in campus activities until you have received this guidance.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 include a fever and/or any of the following: a cough, mild or moderate difficulty breathing, sore throat, muscle aches or body aches, unusual fatigue, headache, new loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
A close contact is defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as “someone who was less than 6 feet away from an infected person (laboratory-confirmed or a clinical diagnosis) for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period (for example, three individual 5-minute exposures for a total of 15 minutes). An infected person can spread SARS-CoV-2 starting 2 days before they have any symptoms (or, for asymptomatic people, 2 days before the positive specimen collection date).”
If you have possible symptoms of COVID-19, you should quarantine immediately, regardless of vaccination or booster status.
Consult with the Office of Health Services (students) or the Office of Human Resources (employees) for guidance or assistance with testing. Do not go to work or attend class or other activities until you receive this guidance.
If you are identified as a close contact to someone who tests positive for COVID-19, your quarantine requirements will depend on your vaccination status and your personal circumstances, including whether or not you are symptomatic or have been infected with the COVID-19 virus within the last 90 days.
If you are vaccinated and boosted, you do not need to quarantine unless you have symptoms.
If you have not been vaccinated, or if you have been vaccinated but haven’t been boosted, you may be required to quarantine. Consult the Office of Health Services (students) or the Office of Human Resources (employees).
If you are vaccinated and boosted you do NOT need to quarantine unless you have symptoms. If symptoms occur, you should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not attributable to COVID-19. For questions, please contact the Office of Health Services (students) or the Office of Human Resources (employees).
If you are vaccinated but have not yet been boosted, you may receive the same guidance as someone who is not vaccinated.
At this time, isolation is typically for five to ten days, and may be followed by a period of time when you are required to follow strict masking practices. Additional testing is often required before you are released from isolation.
Typically, quarantines for unvaccinated or symptomatic close contacts last for five days, while vaccinated, asymptomatic individuals may only be required to follow strict masking practices.
Requirements for and lengths of isolation and quarantine may vary by circumstance and may change over time. Refer to guidance by the Offices of Health Services or Human Resources for your particular situation.
Requirements for testing may vary by individual circumstances. Generally, if you are vaccinated and boosted, you may not be required to test to exit isolation or quarantine.
Students are encouraged to submit their vaccination status to covid@northland.edu, and faculty and staff are encouraged to submit their vaccination status to humanresources@northland.edu.
We encourage all eligible individuals to get vaccinated and boosted. Doing so helps reduce coronavirus spread, slows the pace and number of mutations, and limits the need for advanced medical services.
Evidence from around the world continues to demonstrate that vaccinations significantly reduce the severity of COVID-19 for most people. The effectiveness of vaccinations in preventing infection varies by vaccine type, coronavirus variant, and the number and timing of vaccine doses, but overall, infection rates among vaccinated individuals continue to be lower than among unvaccinated individuals.
While encourage you to communicate with people directly about violating the College’s COVID-19 policies, we acknowledge that approach does not always work. If you see conduct that poses a serious risk to others or a pattern of consistent policy violations, you may report them here.
Reports will be received by the Office of Human Resources—including those about students. They will review the report and escalate it as necessary. We encourage you to share your name and email to help with any investigation or follow-up, but you do have the option to report anonymously if you are not comfortable sharing your name.
